Line tensioner and building structure

ABSTRACT

A line tensioner device comprising an elongated member having a pair of spaced holes adjacent one end with the holes being on opposite sides of the barycentric line of the member and a hook at the other end of the member. The line passes through the holes, and the member is pivoted about an axis located between the holes to tension the line. The hook is then secured around the line to lock the tensioner device in position. Building structures can be held in assembled relation by the tensioner.

United States Patent [191 Gretter Apr. 29, 1975 [54] LINE TENSIONER AND BUILDING 1.702340 2/1929 Gates 52/227 STRUCTURE 2,635,451 4/1953 Walthers Inventor: Joseph Clemens Gretter, 1 l9 Seir Hill Rd., Wilton, Conn. 06897 Filed: Mar. 2, 1973 Appl. No.: 337,527

US. Cl 24/7l.3; 52/227 Int. Cl. A43c 11/08; A44b 21/00 Field of Search 52/227-229,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1894 Judd 52/291 2/1918 Emmons 11/1919 Maehlcr..... 5/1920 Maehler 11/1921 McAvoy t. 52/227 Primary Examiner-Frank L. Abbott Assistant Examiner.lames L. Ridgill, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Symthe & Moore [57] ABSTRACT 4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PAIEN'iEuAPnzeirs Sam 2 ur 2 ma ma IGA I .IO m F G I A LINE TENSIONER AND BUILDING STRUCTURE The present invention relates to a line tensioner device, and more particularly, to such a device made of one piece and having no moving parts and useful for building structures.

In the use of various lines, such as ropes. cables, wires and the like, it is frequently desirable to apply increased tension to these lines after they have been positioned. Such applications may include clothes lines which become slack after use, and it is desired to increase their tension. In other applications, lines or wires have been used to retain articles in position, and it is then desired to tighten the lines to lock or snugly secure the articles in their assembled position, such as in assemblable building structures. Many forms of devices have been proposed for the purpose of increasing the tension on such lines. However, such devices are generally disadvantageous in that they comprise a number of parts which must be operated in a certain relationship to each other in order to tighten the line. Further, this number of parts produces a complexity in the device which is out of proportion to its relatively simple function. The number of components also increases the unreliability of the device after periods of use.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved line tensioner device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a line tensioner device which comprises one piece and has no moving parts.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a line tensioner device which is simple in construction and reliable in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an easily assemblable building structure.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a line tensioner device which comprises an elongated member having a first opening at one end thereof and a second opening spaced inwardly of the first opening. The first and second openings are on opposite sides of the barycentric line of the elongated member. Means which may be in the form of a hook are provided on the other end of the elongated member for locking the tensioner device in its closed or tightened position. The barycentric line" can be defined as the line passing through the center ofa mass.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the accompanying description and drawings, which are merely exemplary.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a line tensioner device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the device positioned on a line and in a slack position;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 and showing the device as it is being moved toward the tightened position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 and showing the device in its tightened position;

FIG. 5 is an overall perspective view of a structure having its panels secured in position by the line tensioner device of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of a structure illustrated in FIG. 5 and showing a manner in which the tensioner device is used to maintain panels in the assembled position;

FIG. 7 is an overall perspective view of another form of structure employing the line tensioner device of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of a bracket employed in the structure of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the bracket of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of another form of the tightener device of the present invention.

Proceeding next to the drawings wherein like reference symbols indicate the same parts throughout the various views, a specific embodiment and modification of the present invention will be described in detail.

As may be seen in FIG. 1, a line tensioner device according to the present invention is indicated generally at 10 and comprises an elongated member 11 which can be in the form of a rod. Adjacent one end thereof, the rod 11 is formed into loops l2 and 13 to define openings 14 and 15. At its other end, the rod is bent to form a hook 16.

As can be best seen in FIG. 4, the openings 14 and 15 are positioned on opposite sides of the barycentric line, indicated at 17, of the tensioner device. The barycentric line essentially indicates the center of gravity of the device.

In operation, a line such as 18 in FIG. 2 is passed through the openings 14 and 15 in the manner illustrated therein with both the line and tensioner device being in the slack position. In order to tighten the line, the device is moved in the direction of the arrow 19 shown in FIG. 3 so that in effect, the device is pivoted around an axis 20 which is positioned along the barycentric line 17 and between the openings 14 and 15. The device is pivoted until it reaches the position of FIG. 4 and the hook 16 is then secured under the line as shown in FIG. 4. In FIGS. 2 to 4, inclusive, the tightener device is employed to lock a pair of panels 21 and 22 into aligned position. The panels 22 and 23 may form a wall of a structure indicated generally in FIG. 5 at 24. The inner ends of the panels are positioned in an I-I-bracket 25 which receives the ends of the panels. Brackets 26 and 26A are positioned on the outer ends of the panel assembly as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. The line 18 interconnects the brackets 26 and 26A, and the tightener device is positioned on the line and then operated as illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, inclusive, to tighten the line 18 and to lock the panels 22 and 23 in aligned end-to-end relationship.

The particular structure illustrated in FIG. 6 may comprise a shed, toolhouse, dollhouse, playhouse, or any other form of structure formed of a plurality of panels, recognizing that the panels are held in alignment in conjunction with the end panels by structural members, such as by grooved or channeled plates, indicated at 23A in FIGS. 5 and 6.

In a similar manner, the tightener device may be used to form a tent-like structure indicated generally at 30 in FIG. 7 and comprising panels 31 and 32 which are secured in an angular relationship by brackets 33 (FIGS. 7, 8, 9). Line 18 then interconnects the brackets as shown, and a tightener device 10 is positioned on the line within the structure. The device 10 can be tightened to increase the tension on line 10 and thus retain the brackets 33 securely against the ends of the panels 31 and 32.

In FIG. 10, there is illustrated a tightener 10A having an elongated body 11A which is in the shape of a flat plate and is provided with holes 13A and MA at one end thereof and a hook 16A at the other end thereof with these components of the tightener device functioning in the same manner as described above. A line 18A similarly passes through the openings 13A and 14A, and the device 10A is pivoted about axis 20A to move into the tightened position.

Thus, it can be seen that the present invention dis closes a line tightener or tensioner device constructed of one piece and having no moving parts but which easily and effectively can be actuated to tighten the line or to loosen the line to provide slack therein. Also, a means for assembling panels into building structures is shown.

It will be understood that changes in various details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a building structure, the combination comprising a plurality of panels, means for aligning said panels in abutting relationship, and means for locking said panels in their aligned position including a single continuous flexible line such as rope, cable or wire interconnecting the opposed outer portions of the panel assembly and tensioning means in said flexible line, said tensioning means comprising an elongated member having an outer end with a hook thereon, a first opening adjacent the end thereof spaced from said outer end and a second opening spaced inwardly of said first opening in the direction of the elongated member and toward said hook on said outer end, said first and second openings being on opposite sides of the barycentricc line of said elongated member and relatively close to said barycentric line, said flexible line passing through said first and second openings, said means on the outer end of said member locking the tensioning means into a locked position when said member is turned ,and the hook is engaged with said flexible line. W

2. A building structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein two panels are held in angular relationship by brackets at each end held together by said means for tensioning said flexible line.

3. A building structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of vertical panels and roof panels held in assembled relationship by said tensioning means.

4.. A building structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second opening is close to an axial line between said other end and said first opening.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENTNO. 3, 79, 5 Q DATED pr 29, 1975 |NVENTOR(S) Joseph Clemens Gretter It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Q Patent Front Page, Attorney, Agent, or Firm, "Symthe & Moore" should be -Smythe & Moore-; Patent Front Page, after the Abstract, "4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures" should be -4 .Claims, 10 Drawing Figures.

' Signed and gealcd this second D a) Of September 1 9 75 [SEAL] Arrest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer ('nnmlr'ssimur nj'larenrs and Trademarks 

1. In a building structure, the combination comprising a plurality of panels, means for aligning said panels in abutting relationship, and means for locking said panels in their aligned position including a single continuous flexible line such as rope, cable or wire interconnecting the opposed outer portions of the panel assembly and tensioning means in said flexible line, said tensioning means comprising an elongated member having an outer end with a hook thereon, a first opening adjacent the end thereof spaced from said outer end and a second opening spaced inwardly of said first opening in the direction of the elongated member and toward said hook on said outer end, said first and second openings being on opposite sides of the barycentric line of said elongated member and relatively close to said barycentric line, said flexible line passing through said first and second openings, said means on the outer end of said member locking the tensioning means into a locked position when said member is turned and the hook is engaged with said flexible line.
 2. A building structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein two panels are held in angular relationship by brackets at each end held together by said means for tensioning said flexible line.
 3. A building structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of vertical panels and roof panels held in assembled relationship by said tensioning means.
 4. A building structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second opening is close to an axial line between said other end and said first opening. 